Moore announces special session to confirm new House speaker

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Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order Tuesday to announce that he is calling a rare special legislative session to confirm the election to replace House Speaker emeritus Adrienne A. Jones, D-Baltimore County.

The special session will be held Tuesday, Dec. 16. House Democratic Caucus Chair Emily Shetty, D-Montgomery, has scheduled a meeting to nominate Jones’ successor at 10 a.m. the same day.

Jones, 71, announced last week that she was stepping down as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates — a job she held for the past six years. She was the first woman and Black lawmaker to serve as speaker. 

Jones said she plans to remain in the House to represent Baltimore County’s 10th district during the 2026 session that begins Jan. 14.

In Jones’ wake may be another historic first for the state.

House Health and Government Operations Committee Chair Joseline Peña-Melnyk, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, is the front-runner among a crowd of powerful potential nominees. Should she be elected, she would be the first Afro-Latina to serve in the role.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Peña-Melnyk came to the United States as a child. She grew up in New York, received a bachelor’s of arts in criminal justice from Buffalo State College and a law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law.

Peña-Melnyk has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates since 2007, during which time she has been a staunch advocate for mental health policy, civil and reproductive rights, and erasing health disparities among Marylanders. She has served as the chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee since 2022.

During the special legislative session, both chambers will have the ability to override vetoes Moore issued for bills passed during the 2025 legislative session, including legislation to create the Maryland Reparations Commission, which would initiate a two-year study to determine if Marylanders whose families were impacted by slavery or unjust government policies should receive reparations.

Peña-Melnyk advocated for the bill’s passage during floor debates in the final days of the 2025 legislative session.

A spokesperson for Senate President Bill Ferguson said the Senate is constitutionally required to consider veto overrides in the special session.

“The Senate received the governor’s proclamation calling a special session next week. The Senate supports our colleagues in the House of Delegates and is looking forward to joining them as they elect a new Speaker,” Ferguson said in an email.

Beyond a special session to confirm the next House speaker, Moore has not ruled out convening a special session to address mid-cycle redistricting in Maryland. A representative of the governor’s office said Tuesday afternoon that redistricting will not be taken up on the 16th.

The next meeting of the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission will be held on Dec. 12.

This story has been updated.